LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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PARRHASIUS; 



OR, 



THRIFTLESS AMBITION, 



A DRAMATIC POEM. 



BY , ^ ^ ife^ 
ESPY Vs^r^H.^'WILLIAMS. 



/ 



Thriftless ambition !" — Shakespeare. 



copYraGHT: all kights reserved. 



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/■-■'■ ' "''\>/ 

NEW ORLEANS : .'^y^ 

Southern Publishing Co. 

1879 

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f5 33jo 



TO NANNIE. 
Dear Heart, whose life mud ever be 

The m usic of my life, — 
Whose soul aicakes the harmony 

Still wins my soul from strfe, — 
To thee, for ivhom my all is wrought, 

I give my latest gift of thought. 

JUXE Wi. 18T1). 



PARRHASIUS: 

OR, 

THRIFTLESS AMBITION 



THE STUDIO OF PARRHASIUS. 

Parehasius at work upon his painting of 
Prometheus Bound. Theon seated near. 

Theon . 

Ambition? Fame? Beware, beware, Parrha- 

sius! 
Who tempts the envy of the gods courts ruin. 
Such fame as men award their honored kind, 
The fame of good deeds, charity and love, 
Brightens Olympus with a smile, and, yes! 
Makes us in nature gods, though not in name. 
But such as thou wouldst strive for, such as 

lives 
Alone the symbol of imperious self, 
That shun! it is the gods' prerogative! 
They have themselves forewarned us from it! 

Think 
Of Phaeton; yes! and Prometheus, 
Whoso expiating tortures thou wouldst paint. 



b parrhasius; or, thriftless ambition. 

Parrhasius. 
A Socrates! a very Socrates! 
We now have two in Athens. 

Theon. 

Scoff not so. 
I am not worthy to he hked to him 
Whose greatness hath appalled our worthiest 

great. 
Not so, Parrhasius. 

Parrhasius. 

Well, he is the greater. 
Theox. 
Aye, greatest! See in him thy best example. 
He sought not greatness, but being greatly 

good, 
The gods, the world, have thrust it nobly on 

him. 
O, such a mat) is he, indeed, Parrhasius, 
'Tis slmmefnl, being men we are unlike him! 

Parrhasius. 
Words, Tlieon! naught but idle, misspent 

words. 
Young as I am, I am too old t > learn. 
I love not those poor, vain self-immolaters, — 
Philosophers, — whose barren lives distill 
]5iit envious gall, to blight the lives of others. 
Saving thee, Theon, —thee I truly honor. 
Th}^ friendship is most welcome; give it still; 
For to bo friend of such a man as thou, 
Is of itself a praise too dear to squander. 



parrhasius; or, thriftless ambition. 

Theon. 
A seeker still, a hoarder still of praise. 

Parrhasius. 

But for thy lessons, give me less of them 
And I will sfive thee greater love. 



t)^ 



Theon, {aside.) 

Self-love ! 

Parrhasius. 

Even as thou didst speak, to freeze me from it, 
I felt my blood grow warm, my soul grow 

great, 
O'erteeming with my purpose! Even now, 
I feel the inspiration growing on ino; 
Coursing my veins, and filling all my being 
With strong, invigorating, strange delight. 
Dost think that now I could forego my purpose? 
Destroy my canvass? free my prisoner? 
— A.nd, by the gods, I do believe they sent 

him ! 
Never was so Prometheus-like a face. 
And form! — dost dream that now, and at a 

bidding, 
I could forswear a life-long cherished hope? 
No! Wouldst thou do it were the part thine 

own? 
Thou lov'st Philosophy,— 'tis thy hfe's life! 
Canst thou forswear it? ridicule it? scorn it? 
In one quick moment root from out thy heart 
The garnered harvesting of all thy past? 



8 PARKHASirs; oe, thriftless A.:\rBiTiox. 

Thou wonldst ask this of me! do thoii the 

same, 
And I with thee join hands and — die forgotten. 
Yon pause? Reluctance clouds your face ? 

why then 
Prometheus and I shall live forever! 
— Stay, and behold me work. 

Theon, [rmng.) 

And do a munler. 

Parriiasius, {laughing.') 

Wh}', what is one man's life, to that dear fame 
Which shall outlive the lives of centuries? 
If thou wilt stay, 'tis well; if not, farewell. 
And yet, methinks, the sight were worth the 

staying; 
Time might grow gray nor gaze on such 

another. 

Theon. 

Alas! your laught(U- yet may bo a wail. 
Your impious fame prove misery. 

Parrhasius, (calling. ) 

Ho, Damon! 

Theon. 

I, will not stay to hear or witness more; 
But this remember: When the time shall come 
That thy own life shall prove thy greatest 

cu'se. 
And this one deed its climax, then recall, 



PARRHASIUS; OK, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. J 

That once thine own hand clasped the cup of 

peace; 
And when thy friend urged thee to drink, 

with scorn 
And laughter, thou didst dash it from thee. 

Damon, (entering.) 

Master? 

Theon, {going.) 
Farewell, Parrhasius. 

Parrhasius. 
Friend, fare thee well. 
( He conducts Theon to the door. Theon goes. 
Then returning, addressing Damon.) 

Slave, 
The captive whom I purchased, is he fed? 
Strengthened with wine? 

Damon. 
He has been feasted, master. 

Parrhasius. 
Feasted is well; I would not have him weak, 
For half the misery of pain is lost 
Upon your wasted frames. Prometheus 
Was strong, and hence his agony was great. 
Damon, the captive, spite his grizzled head, 
Is strong? At least the wine should make him 
strong. 

Damon . 
He is strong, master; strong without the wine. 



10 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

But having wine his strength seems in his 
tongue. 

Paurhasius. 
Tongue? tongue? — Talks he? 

Damon. 

Incessantly, andloucl; 
Bewails his fate, and curses us, and thee. 
Tells how he is himself a Grecian born; 
At first betrayed by friends, at last by foes, 
And brought now to be sold a very slave 
Upon the very soil that nourished him. 

Parrh^sius. 

Talks? talks? 'Tis strange I did not think of 

that. 
It will not do! Talks loud, about himself? 
Why, then, the dotard might unstring my 

nerves ; 
Aye, lash me with his tongue into a qualm, 
And rob me both of mastery and fame. 
Ere I should run such venture I would — 

Damon! 

Damon. 

Well, master? 

Parrhasius, {after a pause.) 

There is one way, Damon, one; 
Cut out his tongue, deep, to the very root. 
Go, quickly, Damon; for the time draws nigh 
For our, ves! our Prometheus to be tortured. 



PAKRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 11 

The vultures, too, ha! ha! our vultures, Damon! 
Have them in readiness unto our call. 
Mind, cut unto the root ! 

(Damon goe.'i out. Knocking heard ivUhoyt.) 
Who knocks? 

Lydia, (ivithouL) 

'Tis I. 

Paerhasius, (opening the door.) 
My Lydia! 

Lydia, {enter ing.) 
O, my own Parrhasius! 

Parrhasius. 
{Embraces her. A pau^e.) Well? 

Now, by our sweet Diana, thou art dumb, 
And yet dost look a volume of strange words. 

Lydia. 
Tell me, Parrhasius, truly, dost thou love me? 

Parrhasius. 
As I do life, — nay, more; as I do fame. 
Dost doubt me ? 

Lydia. 
Doubt thee? No! and yet, Parrhasius — 
That was a foolish question that I asked! — 
Yet, if you love me, I would — 

{S)e pauses, as if abnshed.) 

Parrhasius. 

Speak thy wishes. 
Let them be nun-ibered as the drops of rain, 



12 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

And each a, favor priceless as its balm, 

As raindrops live anew in blooming flowers, 

So shall thy wishes blossom to fulfillment. 

Lydia. 
Dear! — Listen. Thou dost know my life's 

poor story; 
How like a starless night, whose dews were 

all 
The deep, cold damps of sorrow, it did drag 
Through childhood motherless, — through 

youth, by force. 
Orphaned of him whose being gave my own; 
Till thou didst rise upon it like a sun, 
To gild it with thy mighty, gorgeous splendor, 
And warm it with thy love. 

Parrhasius. 
And yet one grief 
Still lingered, Lydia; thou shouldst not for- 
get— 

Lydia. 
My father? No! 'tis he I come to speak of. 
We thought him dead, Parrhasius; but he 
lives ! 

Parrhasius. 
Lives ? 

Lydia. 
Yes, lives ! lives, and I have seen him . Ob, 
My eyes ne'er drank so dear a sight before ! 

Parrhasius. 
Nor ever have my ears drank in such music. 
Lives ? 



PAERHASIDS; OE, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 13 

Lydia. 
Yes! I passed a slave mart, all by 
chance, 
And there, bound like a dog, I saw him. Yes ! 
'Tis no wild vision; no false hope, Parrhasius. 
Be patient. 

Parrhasius. 
Patient? Bid me cease to breathe! 
Lydia. 
At first I thought to fling myself before him, 
Proclaim him as my father, even there. 
And bid the cruel merchant bind me, too, 
Or else free him, for we should be together. 
But then there came a fear, a chilling doubt, 
That his might be a fancied likeness only. 
I sought the merchant, questioned him at 

length, 
And gained the proof, past doubt, that 'twas 

my father. 
I asked his price;— Ten talents! That was all 
I staid to hear. I thought of you; flew hither, 
And found you not, Parrhasius ! O, the time 
Waiting your coming was so slow to pass. 
Each fleeting second seemed a century ! 
l^arrhasiuR, dear Parrhasius ! Oh, my love. 
Each moment makes his cruel bondage 

longer ! 
O, let me fly to him, ransom in hand, 
And clasp him to my heart, my father ! 
Parrhasius, {fondly.) 

Precious ! — 



14 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

What treasures tlie gods give us in our chil- 
dren ; 

Eternal benedictions on oar lives ! 

Here, take the sum; were it an hundred fold 

Thou couldst not ask it twice. 'Twas thine 
unasked. 

All that I am or would be is but thine. 

Lydia. 
As all I am is thine, Parrhasius. 

Parrhasius. 

Go! 
Lose not a moment ! Would I could go with 

thee; 
But I must work, my Lydia — work for thee! 
ISow while the spirit spurs me in my breast, 
And fills me with forethoughts of victor3^ 

Lydia. 
Thy great Prometheus ? 

Parrhasius. 

My mighty work ! 
My master- piece; the world's great wonder ! 

80, 
One, one more kiss! Now, to thy father go ! 
{He conducts her to the door fondly. She 
goes out.) 

Surely she is a goddess in disguise ! 
She is more beautiful than all her kind; 
More purely virtuous than she is fair. 

( Then closing and fastening the door.) 
But now to work. 

— Work! work! There is a spell 



PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 15 

In that one word, more potent, fame-compell- 
ing, 

More winning of the halcyon joys of heaven, 

Than the Chaldean's loud earth-rending 
charms, 

Or incense incantations e'er can boast ! 

'Twas work that made a god of Hercules ! 

— {Galls. )~'Dsimon\ 

Damon, (entering.) 
Well, master? 

Parrhasius. 

Is it done ? 
Damon. 

It is. 
He cannot speak, but now he looks his 
thoughts. 

Parrhasius. 
So would I have him, Damon, if his thoughts 
Are terrible witn speechless hate and pain. 
The torturers— our vultures— are they ready ? 

Damon. 
They wait your orders. 

Parrhasius. 

Let them enter. 
(Damon goes out and relurns with luo FAhio- 
pian slaves. Fa^uhxsws continues.) Slaves, 
You are my bondmen, flesh and blood, my 

dogs; 
Dut your redemption is at hand. Perform 
Your tabk of torture horribly and sure. 



16 PAERHASIUS; OR J THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

AdcI the last breath your quivering victim 

draws 
Shall bid ye breathe in freedom. Only this : 
Prolong his agony till I cry — done ! 
If ye should fail in that, your deaths be dogs' ! 
Let him be brought. 

Damon and the slaves go out. Presently they 
return, bringing in the captive, bound to a rack 
which is carried like a litter. Damon is pale 
and .trembles. 

Parrhasius. 

There, Damon, place him there, 
Where the bright light shall fall the strong- 
est on him. 
So. — Why thou'rt pale and trembling, Da- 
mon ! Go ! 

(Damon goes out quickly.) 

If I can free these Ethiopian dogs 

I should free Damon too, and so I shall. 

His part is full as hard, he more deserving. 

{He approaches and gazes upon the captive for 
a few moments in silence, then continues.) 

There is a powerless fury in that gaze; 
Kebellious resignation in that pose. 
'Tis great ! 

Old man, though thou shalt die this life. 
Live but a little thus, and thou shalt live 
To know no death, forever on my canvass ! 
Think, what a glorious fame, in after time 
To thrill the souls of mute admiriner men. 



PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 17 

With the appalling thought, that that man 

lived! 
He was no dream ! he was a real Prometheus ! 

— Look at his scorn ! by all the gods, sublime ! 
Slaves, quick, begin ! Ha ! that is well ! Spare 

not! 
Only, beware, let him not die too soon. 

( The Elhiopian^ torture the captive. Durimg 
the torturing Parrhanius jjaintii rapidly^ talking 
from time to time while he works. ) 

— Would that my pencil had the lightning's 

touch, 
Quick and indellible, to catch and fix 
That flash of agony ! 

It came and went having no space of time 
Betwixt its birth and dying. 

— He smiles, even in pain, like one who 

smiles. 
Unconscious, in the midst of horrid dreams, 
And knows not of his own lip's mockery. 

— He writhes ! they touch his vitals ! see ! he 

faints? 
Let him not die ! wine, give him wine, you 

dogs ! 
So, so. — Wait now till he is conscious. 

— There is no meaning in a dead man's grin, 
Save that it is an epitaph of pain. 
Prometheus was not dead, his pain was living, 
Was an eternal life; that was its curse ! 
Yes, by the gods, it is his punishment, 



18 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

And not his sin, liath made Prometheus fa- 
mous. 

— Once more, my vultures, once again your 

parts. 
— See ! see ! each particle of flesh seems 

living; 
And with a separate life would strive to burst 
From his torn carcass, and so fly its misery ! 
Oh, only could a god, an angered Jove 
Dream or enforce so dread a torture. 
— Again, wine I vvine, you dogs ! 
Prop up his head. So. What a look was 

that ! 
Were those eyes charged with lightning they 

would blast me. 
He sickens with the thought ihat they are 

powerless. 

{He laughs.) 
— Again, once more, my vultures. 
—What a sigh ! 

It is as if the earth-bound spirit struggled 
A captive to the flesh, and would be free; 
And in that moan there was a prayer for death 
So great, it might have startled Atropos, 
Pitying, to cut his raveled skein too soon. 
— Can he be dying now ? so soon ? no ! no ! 
More wine ! feed him with life ! he must not 

die! 
Spare him only a little yet, great Jove! 
— Only a little yet, and all is done; 
And thou shalt be at rest, old man, in death. 



PAERHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 19 

Truly, I pity thee ! Thou art so strong, 
So godlike in thy harmony of strength, 
That thus to tear thee from the eyes of men 
Indeed were cruel, — but that thou shouldst 

live, 
New-born, in my Prometheus. 
— Slaves, you tremble ? 

Beware, your wage is freedom, or 'tis death ! 
Qnail not; nor let him die ere I have done, 
For then you should yourselves make good 

your failure. 
Even upon his rack, and torn as he ! 
— Ha! so! that look, (hat throe! Sublime! 

sublime ! 
Again, force him to that again, and if 
I can but fix it — Ha ! there ! good ! good ! 

good 1 
All Hades centers in that glance ! He gasps? 
So, it is done ! ha ! ha! He dies ! he dies ! 
Well, w^ell, 'tis not too soon ! Go freedmen, 

go! 
( The Ethiopians rush out. Parrhasius sivks 
into a seat, exhausted, laughing hysterically , and 
gazing triumphantly at his work.) 
Dead ! dead ! — But there, he lives eternally I 

Lydia. 
( Without, knockivgat the door.) 
Parrhasius ! 

Parrhasius. 
Ah ! 



20 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

Lydia, (without.) 
Parrbasius ! 

Parrhasius. 

It is Lydia. 
She should not enter here, the body here ! 

Lydia. 
Keep me not longer from thee! this delaj^ 
Confirms me in my sweet surmising. Oh, 
Thou jewel of all men, my own Parrhasius ! 

Parrhasius, (rising.) 
By Venus, she shall enter ! So, this curtain. 
Thou poor old man, shall be thy gorgeous 
pall. 

(Then standing over the body.) 

His face is calm; he smiles as dreaming 

sweetly; 
No sign of pain; not even the cold dew 
That beaded all his brow in agony. 
Yet it was terrible ! Damon was pale 
With but the thought of it; and the poor 

blacks 
Shivered unto their bones, and Hed in fright, 
And left him here — forgetting their last duty. 

Lydia, (knocking. ) 
Parrhasius, why, why do you keep me waiting? 

Parrhasius. 
Am I forgetful, too ? Yes, Lydia. 

(He covers the body; (hen opens the door.) 



PAREHA.SIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 



21 



Lydia. 
{Entering^ and embracing him.) 

Dearest ! 
O, I could hang forever on thy neck— 

Parrhasius. 
And there would shine a circlet all of love, 
Priceless beyond all price. But, love, thy 

father V 

Lydia. 

Parrhasius, do you ask me? Ransomed, 

surely. 

Parrhasius. 

Then am I trebly happy !— Most in thee, 

Whose delicate nature hath inwrought my life 

With a bright tale, of woes o'ercome by joys, 

In that strange marvelous broidery, called 

Love. 

Next in thy father, who in having thee 

Blest me, and lives now to be blest by me. 

And lastly, in my great Prometheus. 

But, love, where is thy father ? 

Lydia. 

Guess you not ? 
Oh, speak Parrhasius; it is thou must answer ! 
I have been patient till I almost die. 

Parrhasius. 
You have been patient? Yvhy, love ? 
Lydia. 

O, Par rh a sins! 
Must I then weep, and yet } ou will not melt ? 



22 parkhasius; or, thriftless ambition. 

Parrhasius. 

Tears ? tears ? This is too much ! What is it, 
love ? 

The dew gems of thine eyes are far too pre- 
cious 

To scatter thus, and without reason. Nay, 

Look up ! What is it thou canst wish ? 

Lydia. 

My father, 

Parrhasius. 
Thy father? What! have you not seen him 

then? 
Not ransomed him? 

Lydia. 
He was ah'eady ransomed. 

Parrhasius. 
Ah'eady ransomed ? Did you not bespeak 

him? 
He was already ransomed, love, by thee, 
Wanting alone the talents counted down. 
The merchant would not break his word. You 

smile ? 
Ah ! some old friend passing perchance like 

thee, 
Discovered him, and, for old friendship's sake, 
Freed him at once from bondage ? Is't not so ? 

Lydia. 
Yes, a true friend, an unknown friend has 
freed him. 



PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 23 

Parrhasius. 
An unknowii friend ? 

Lydia. 
Unknown to him; to me, 
Known oh, so truly, clearly ! dear Parrhasius, 
That friend, by some strange chance, winning 

my secret, 
E'er I had thought that it had left my keep- 

iiij?.— 
Pansomed my father, that to him, alone, 
I still might owe my greatest, dearest bless- 
ings. 

Parrhasius. 

Thou must repay the ransom twice,— aye, 

thrice ! 

Lydia. 

Nay! I will pay it o'er a thousand fold, 
In coin more precious than the purest gold, 
Yet count the reimbursement scant. Thou, 

thou. 
My own Parrhasius,— thou didst ransom him i 
And I can only pny thee back with love, with 

life. 

Parrhasius. 

{Slavic, ogha^f, as 9/ by ^^ome terrible tlwvcjht.) 

Lydia. 

^Vhere is my father? speak! too long, too 

long 
Have I forborne thy playing with my patience! 

The merchant's tale was plain.— Scarce had I 

left him, 



24 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

When thou didst pass, and — yes, it must be 

thus ! 
Some one who had o'erheard my talk betrayed 

me, — 
And with no question thou didst pay the sum, 
And take my father with thee. Even, Parrha- 

sius, 
The very time that I did seek his ransom, 
He was beneath thy roof, free, — freed by 

thee! 
And, unkind husband, — yet indeed how kind, 
You let me forth upon a fruitless search. 
Yet I forgive; for surely 'twas thy purpose 
Thus to give keener relish to my jo}^ 

Parrhasius, (aside.) 
Prometheus ! 0, Prometheus ! 

Lydia, {impaliently.) 

Speak, Parrhasius ! 
Where is my father ? 

Parrhasius, {as before.) 

Jove where are thy thunders ! 

Lydia. 
Parrhasius? This — this is not well, Parrha- 
sius. 
Thy silence chills me with a dreadful fear, 
Of what, I know not, — j'et it crazes me ! 
Speak! Ha? 

{She sees the painling, and ivilh a scream ad- 
vances towards it, eyeing it searchingly .) 



PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 25 

That face? — that seems my father's face ! 
O speak, Parrhasius ! Heard I not a groan, 
Oh, very faint, and yet so full of pain, 
Just ere I paused without the door ? — Silent ? 
Still silent?— Then I did !— Was it my 

father's ? 
If you do love me pity me and speak. 
—Silent ?— That face!— that agony!— O, gods ! 
But I will find him ! Murderer, where is he ? 

[She starts frantically, about to leave the room, 
and sees the corjjse. She stops suddenly, for a 
moment ajjpalled, then rushes to it and If Is the 
covering.) 

This, this, this ! O ye gods, have ye no ven- 
geance ? 

{She falls fainting on the body.) 

Parrhasius. 
[Rushing to her and raising her in his arms.) 

Call down no greater vengeance — this has 
crushed me. 

She does not breathe; have I done double- 
murder. 

Theon, {without, knocking. ) 
Parrhasius. 

Parrhasius, {not hearinrj.') 

O, thou blighted, frozen lily ! 
If thou art dead, I cannot blame the gods, 
For I — I am unfit to keep thee. 



26 PARRHASIUS; OR, THRIFTLESS AMBITION. 

Theon, {as be/ore.) 

Friend ! 
Parrhasius, (still unheeding.) 
Open thine eyes, though they should scorn 

me ! 
I would kiss thee, but that my kiss might kill 

thee, 
And send thy spirit, shrinking from my breath, 
Poisoned to the remorseless shades of Hades. 
Thou wert my all; I loved thee more than 

fame, 
And yet for fame have murdered thee ! O, 
Lydia ! 

Theon, {as before,) 
Parrhasius. 

Parrhasius, {hearing.) 

Theon ? — (Then after a pause.) Enter, friend. 

Theon. 

( Entering; seeing and comprehending. ) 

Woe ! woe ! 

O, my Parrhasius ! wliere is now thy glory? 

Parrhasius. 
Behold ! — thy prophesy. 

Thus do the gods 
Inflict our punishments with our own hands, 
And scourge us mortally with our own errors ! 
— O Lydia, Lydia ! 



